Musical instrument



ocr. 18, 1949.- R. T. coNELlus Y 2,484,9301

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MUSICAL INSTRUMENT v Filed Nov. 22, 1944 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Richard T. Corne lus Oct. 18,` 1949. R. T. CORNELIUS 2,484,930

MsIcAL INSTRUMENT Patented Oct. 18. 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Richard T. Cornelius, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application November 22, 1944, Serial No. 564,573

3 Claims. (Cl. 84--1.01)

l 2 My invention relates to musical instruments the notations of the musical scales in the variand particularly those using a keyboard having ous keys ordinarily used in writing music. lower and upper digitals and has for an object In the writing of music, the present practice,

to provide an instrument which will be easier to when keys other than the key of C are being used, play in the diiierent keys. is to employ at the beginning of the notation Another object of the invention resides in prothe signature which indicates which of the varividing an instrument in which the signature ous notes are to be sharped or flatted in the playnotes are played entirely bythe lower digitals ing of the piece or music written, This entails of the same notation instead of partly by the considerable mental exertion on the part of the upper digitals. .0 person reading the music and particularly when A still further object of the invention resides the key is one having several Sharps or flats. in providing a musical instrument in which ac- Since the notes which are sharped or iiatted are cidental sharps and 'flats are played by upper different for each key, it requires that the player digitals, learn not only which notes are sharped and My invention further relates to musical instru- '.5 flatted in each key, but that when he comes to a ments having diotonic lower digitals and intersignature note, he play a different note on the mediate upper digitals disposed between the instrument than the one ordinarily played were lower digitals, the tone generators of which prothe piece played in the key of C. This leads to duce tones having a full tone interval and has for confusion so great that only the most proficient an object to provide supplemental upper digi- 0 players' can read and play music in numerous tals disposed between the lower digitals, the tone keys with any degree of speed and few can so generators of which produce tones having semiread and play in all of the keys. The present tone intervals, said supp1ementa1 digitale being invention overcomes this disadvantage by providadapted to aotuate the tone generators correing a musical instrument in which a selector is sponding with either of the lower diatonic digig5 mOVed '00 a DOStOll C01'1`eSD0ndng to the kel7 t0 tals adjacent thereto. be played and the music then played with disre- Another object of the invention resides in progard t0 the Sharps and flats HOCed in the Signaviding a musical instrument having a movable seture in much the Same manner as if played in lector member adapted to be moved to various the key 0f C.

positions, each corresponding with one 0f the im To avoid confusion in the specification and keys, and at such position transferring control of Claims, lille WOICl key llas been emlOlOYed 130 the signature notes to the lower digitals of the refer to the scales or series of notes used in the saine notation. playing of a piece while the word digital has Other objects of the invention reside in the been used t0 designate the level' Ol' Other manilnovel combination and arrangement of parts and 255 ally ellel'aled Dart by means 0f Which each JCOIle in the details of construction hereinafter illusgeneratOI' iS actuated- It can readily be undertrated and/or described. stood, however, that the word digital is intend- In the drawings: ed to embrace pedals and any other form of Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram of a musical instrumanually operated devices arranged in the form ment illustrating an embodiment of my inven- Lio of an ordinary key board. such as employed tion. with an organ, piano or the like.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational cross sec- For the purpose of illustration, I have shown tional view of an electric organ taken on line 2 2 my invention as applied to an electrically oonof Fig. 1. trolled organ, though it can readily be compre- Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 taken on line 45 hended that the invention may be used with a 3 3 of Fig. 1 and drawn to a greater scale. piano, harmonium, accordian, or similar instru- Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view through the ment. selector switches taken on line 4 4 of Fig, 2 and In Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, I have shown drawn to a greater scale. a portion ofV an organ A which includes a manual Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view show- 50 I5 mounted in a case I6. This manual comprises ing the selector operating member. a number of digitals arranged in octaves. Since Figs. 6 to 19 inclusive are elevational views of the invention is merely duplicated in each octave, the respective cams corresponding with the only the digitals in one octave have been shown. digitals of the key board. These digitals consist of lower digitals 2|, 22, 23,

Figs. 20 to 33, inclusive, are views illustrating 5 2li, 25, 26, 21 and28, which correspond with tone generators producing the tones customarily referred to in music as C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C. Between the digitals 2| and 22 and between the digitals 22 and 23 are upper digitals 3| and 32 which correspond with the tone generators producing the tones C sharp D flat and D sharp E flat. 25, between the digitals 25 and 26, and between the digitals 2B and 21 are disposed upper digitals 33, 34 and 35. These digitals correspond with the tone generators producing the tones F sharp G ilat, G sharp A iiat, and A sharp B at.

The particular organ illustrated is a pipe organ and the tone generators consist of a number of pipes with suitable wind apparatus for sounding the same. Such construction being well known in the art has not been shown in detail in the drawings. It is to be noted that there are a number of pipes 4|, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 41 and 48 Which correspond with the digitals 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 21 and 28 and which are tuned to produce the tones customarily designated as C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C, forming the tones of the diatonic scale. For the sake of convenience, these tone generators have been referred to as the diatonic tone generators and the digitals corresponding therewith as the lower or diatonic digitals. In addition to the tone generators above referred to, other pipes 5|, 52, 53, 54 and 55 are employed which are tuned to produce the tones C sharp D flat, D sharp E iiat, F sharp G at, G sharp A flat, and A sharp B iiat. These pipes correspond with the digitals 3|, 32, 33, 34 and 35 and produce tones which are intermediate the tones of the adjacent diatonic pipes having a semi-tone interval with reference to said tones. Said tone generators and the digitals corresponding therewith have hence been referred to as the upper intermediate tone generators 'and digitals. Of the diatonic tone generators, the tones produced by the pipes 43 and 44 and by the pipes 41 and 48 have a semi-tone interval, while thetones produced by the other diatonic tone generators have a full tone interval.

Each of the digitals of the organ consists of a lever 59 which is pivotally supported on a balance rail 6|. This lever rests on a felt pad 62 secured to said balance rail. A pin 63 passes loosely through the lever 59 and is driven into the rail 6| and forms a hinge for the lever. The rail 6| is carried by a key bed 64 which also supports a stop rail 65. This rail has pins 6B issuing upwardly therefrom which iit loosely in holes 61 in the under sides of the levers 59. Extending upwardly from the digitals and at a location near i the balance rail 6| is a front panel 68. The front panel 08 and bed 64 form part of the case I8 which also includes a top 69 and end walls 56.

The levers 59 extend into the case I6 and each lever operates an actuating switch which closes a circuit energizing a solenoid operated valve which directs air into the particular tube to be blown. For supporting these switches, an actuating switch bar 51 is employed which is attached to the end walls 55. These switches are mounted on said bar and are designated by the reference numerals 1|, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 11, 18, 8|, 82, 83, 84 and 85 and correspond with the digitals 2|, 22, 29, 24, 25, 29, 21, 28, 3|, 32, 33, 34, and 35, respectively. Since all of these switches are identical, only the switch 15, which is associated with digital 25, has been shown in detail in the drawings and will be described.

The switch 15 comprises two blades 89 and 9|, which are attached to and insulated from one Likewise, between the lower digitals 24 and Il i) iii) another by means of insulating blocks 92 and 93. Screws 94 hold the Said parts in position and secure the same to the actuating switch bar. The switch blades 89 and 9| have contacts 95 secured to the ends of the same which are adapted to make contact when the blade 9| is urged toward the blade 89. For this purpose, a screw 95 is threaded into the end of the lever 59 and engages the under side of the blade 9|. When the digital is depressed, screw 98 is raised and the switch 15 is closed. For the purpose of returning the digital to normal position, a spring 91 is employed which acts between the under side of the bar 51 and the inner end of the lever 59. The return movement of the digital is terminated when the lever 59 engages a stop bar 98 secured to the bed 84.

Associated with each digital is a cam, said cams being designated by the reference numerals |0|, |02, |03, |04, |05, |06, |01, |08, ||2, ||3, ||4, and ||5, and corresponding with the digitals 2| to 28 and 3| to 35, respectively. These cams are shown in detail in Figs. 6 to 19, inclusive. The form of said cams will be presently described in detail. Said cams are mounted on and keyed to a shaft ||9 journaled in suitable bearings (not shown) which are carried by the end walls 58 of case I6. The shaft ||9 has also mounted on it a bevel gear |2| which meshes with another bevel gear |22 fast on a stub shaft |23 shown in Fig. 5. This shaft is journaled in a bearing |24 secured to the panel 68 and passes completely through Said panel. On the outer end of shaft |23 is mounted a knob |25 by means of which said shaft may be rotated. This knob has a pointer |26 on it which moves along a scale 21 fast on the panel 68. The scale |21 has fourteen positions on it, designated |28, which are marked with the key notes of the various scales ordinarily used in writing and playing music. When the knob is turned to cause the pointer to point at a particular scale, the various cams become arranged in such a manner that the proper tone generators are sounded when the digitals are depressed.

Associated with the respective cams 0| to |08 and to ||5 are multiple switch sets designated by the reference numerals 3| to |38 and |4| to |45, inclusive. Each of these switch sets includes three switches and the said switches will be designated by the same reference characters as the switch set to which it belongs and to which have been added the sub-characters a, b and c. For the switch set |35, the three switches will be 35a, |3517 and |350. Only the switches of the switch set |35 have been shown in detail, which are illustrated in Fig. 2. For supporting the switches of the various switch sets, I employ a selector switch bar |1| which is attached to the end wall 56 of case |8. This switch bar has attached to it pairs of contacts, as disclosed in Fig. 4, indicated by the reference numerals |29 and |30. Two of these contacts, together with a movable connector |12, form each switch. The connector |12 has issuing from it two contacts |13 adapted to contact the contacts |29 and |30 to close the circuit connecting the same. The connector |12 is attached to an arm |14 which, in turn, is pivoted to a switch lever |15. Lever |15 is mounted for oscillation on a shaft |16 which extends across to the end wall 56 of cabinet I5 at a position above the actuating switch bar 51. The lever |15 has a cam follower |11 which is adapted to engage the surface of the cam |05 with which it is associated. A spring |18, acting between an extension |19 on the lever |15 and a.V screw,v eye |8| secured to the panel 68, maintains thecam follower |11 in engagement withthe cam. An-l other spring |82, actingr between the lever |15` and an extension |83 on arm` |14, serves to maintainthe contacts |13 urged towardthe bar |1| and when the said contacts arein proper positionagainst the contacts |29 and |30. While I desire to employ switches having two contacts with a connector for connectingv the same together, it can readily be comprehended that single contacts can be used on the switch bar and, likewise, a single contact used on the movable arm |14` shown in Fig. 2 `which carries the connector |12. In this case, however, it will become necessary. that the current be carried through the arm |14` and the lever |15 which will entail pigtails or other types of ilexible connections. Sincethe illustration of the wiring of the invention is much simplified by showing the single type of contact,

I have so illustrated the wiring in Fig. 1. It will be readily comprehended that wherey the double contacts are used, the additional contacts are all connected together and to the same conductors as the arms shown in Fig. 1 are connected. In i such case, the arms would be out of the electrical circuits.

In addition to the upper digitals 3|, 32, 33, 34 and 35, I employ two additional upper digitals 38 and 31 which are situated between the digitals 23, and 24 and between the digitals 21 and 28.

Y These upper digitals are similar to the digitals 3|-35, excepting that the same are made to differentiate th-erefrom in being slightly lower in height and 'being made white instead of black. These digitals operate actuating switches 8B and 81 corresponding with the similar switches employed for the other digitals. In connection with the digitals 36 and 31, additional cams ||6 and ||1l are employed which control multiple switch sets |46 and |41, which, however, differ from the other switch sets in that the switch sets have only two switces |48a and |460 and |41a and |410. rflhe cams I6 and 1 have, however, three positions, but the intermediate positions between switches are open.

In Figs. -33, I have shown the various keys or scales ordinarily used in writing and playing music, and have shown the various notes which are sharped and flatted for each key. In the drawings, the invention has been shown as arranged to play in the key of A and the description ci the various parts and their relations will be discussed with reference to this key. In Fig. 25, the scale for the key of A has been shown. In this figure, the signature isl indicated at |84 and shows three sharps, namely, C sharp, F sharp and G sharp. Beneath the notes |85 of the scales are also indicated the letters which correspond with the tones to be played. It will be noted that in this scale, all of the notes except C sharp, F sharp and G sharp are played by the lower digitals. In order to play C sharp, F sharp and G sharp by lower digitale, it becomes necessary to transfer actuation of the corresponding tone generators, which would be 5|, 53 and 54 to the digitals 2|, 24 and 25. This is accomplished by means of the various cams |0| etc. It will be noted in Figs. 6,-19, inclusive, that the cams have three radial circumferential paths which determine the position of connector |1|. When the cam follower is at the outermost portion of the cam, switch |350 is closed. When at its intermediate position, switch |b is closed, and when at its inner position, switchy |35a. is

closed. The cams are so designed. that each caml causesy the properl closure of the switch associated therewith. whereupon the' Sharps and flats ofk the signature may be all played by the lower'` digitals.

For the purpose of operating the various tone generators 4| tox4'8 and `5| to 55, inclusive, a number; of solenoids |5| to |58 and ||i|toV |65, inclusive; are employed'which correspond with said tone; generators. These solenoids operate valves noti shown which control the flow of air to the various pipes'or tone generators. Such construction. being wellknown in the art, has not been described in this application, though it can be readilyzcomprehended that any suitable construction now available for the purpose may be employed. vFor energizing the solenoids, a line` |86 is employed which is connected to a suitable source of electrical energy and which has two conductors |81 and |88. Conductor |81 is connectedn to oneside of each of the solenoids |5| to |58andx|8|.to |65-, inclusive. The other conductor |88 of the line |86 is connected to one side of all of the switches1| to 18 and 8| to 85, inclusive. The other sides of these switches are connected by means of conductors ISI to |98 and 28| to 205inclusive., with the contacts |29 of the switches 3| to |38 and |4| to |45, inclusive. This is equivalent to connecting the said conductors to the levers |15, as shown in the wiring diagram.

The other sides of the various solenoids |5| to |58 and |6| to |85 are connected to the various selector switches |3|r to |38/and'l4l to |45, in the followingl manner. Solenoid |5| is connected by a conductor 2| to the switch |3|b and by means of another conductor 2|2 to the switch |4|a. Solenoid |6| is connected 'by means of conductors 2|3, 2|4k and 2|5` withr switches |3|c, |4|b and |32a. Solenoid |52` is connected by means of conductors 2|6, 2|1 and 2|8 with switches |4|c, |3-2b and |42a. Solenoid |62 is connected by means of conductors 2|9; 220 and 22! with the switches |320, |42b and |33a. Solenoid |53, which corresponds to the tone E, is, however, connected somewhat differently. This solenoid is connected by means of conductors 222, 223, 224 and 225 with the switches |420, |331), |46a and |34a. Solenoid |54 is connected similarly to the solenoid' |5'3fby meansof conductors 226, 221, 228 and 228 with the switches |330, |461), |341) and |43a. Solenoid |63 is connected by means of conductors 23|, 232, and 233 with switches |34c, |43b and |35a. Solenoid |55 is connected by means of conductors 234, 235 and 236 with switches |43c, |3527 and |44a. Solenoid |64 is connected by means of conductors 231, 238 and 239 with switches |350, |4419 and |36a. Solenoid |56 is connected by means of conductors 248, 24| and 242 with' switches |440, |381) and |4511. Solenoid isconnected by means of conductors 243, 244 and 245with switches |350, |4519 and |31a. Solenoid |51 is connected similarly to the solenoid |53" by means of conductors 246, 241, 248 and 249 with the switches |45c, |31b, |4111 and |38a. Solenoid 58. is connected by means of conductors 25|, 25.3 and254 with the switches |310, |410 and |381). It will readily be comprehended that the manner of connecting the various solenoids and switches continues throughout the adjoining octaves and isduplicated'in each octave.

Invthe design of the various cams |8| to |88 and to H1, the surfaces of the cams are so arrangedrthat when the knob |25 and pointer |28y indicate a particular key, the actuation of the generators producing the sharped or atted tones designated by the notes of the signature are transferred to the lower digitals having the same notation. As an example, the instrument has been shown in the drawings as set to play the key of A. Fig. 25 shows that C, F and G are the only notes which are sharped. In examining the various digitals, it will be found that in Fig. 6 the follower opposite the key of A is on the outermost path. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the switches corresponding to the reference character C are closed when the follower is following along the outermost path. In Fig. 1, the digital 2|, which corresponds to tone C, operates a circuit controlled by the cam IUI and the switch set I3I. In this case, the switch |3Ic is closed and the circuit will be traced through solenoid ISI which controls the operation of pipe 5l producing C sharp. In similar manner, the cams |04 and |05 shown in Figs. 12 and 14 which correspond with tones F and G, which are also sharped are so constructed that the cam followers are on their outer paths and depression of the digitals 24 and 25 causes the solenoids |63 and |64 to become actuated and to operate the tone generators 53 and 54 which play F sharp and G sharp. The cams of all of the other lower digitals are arranged so that the followers operate along the intermediate path and which, from an inspection of Fig. l, will show that in such position,

the digitals play the tone actually corresponding with said digitals.

With my invention, all incidental Sharps and flats are played by the upper digitals. In order that this be possible, the two extra upper digitals 36 and 3l are employed which, when the cam follower of the cams corresponding therewith are in their outermost or innermost positions, cause these digitals to play either of the tones normally played by the adjacent lower digitals and when in their intermediate positions to play no tone whatsoever. In other words, digital 36 will play either E or F or no tone whatsoever and the digital 31 will play B or C or no tone whatsoever. Inasmuch as an incidental sharp of one intermediate tone, namely, a tone played by an upper digital, becomes a natural, it will be noted that the cams corresponding to the intermediate tones are so constructed that the cam followers are on the outer paths of the cams. This changes the tones played by the upper digitals to the proper natural tones. It will readily be comprehended that all of the keys are worked out in the same manner, so that the proper tones are produced when the desired digitals are depressed.

The use of my invention greatly simplifies the playing of music. The player first reads the signature of the piece of music and turns the knob l25 until the pointer |26 is opposite the same key. He then plays the notes as written, disregarding the signature and playing the signature notes by the lower digitals having the same notation. In other words, instead of playing C sharp, F sharp and G sharp in the key of A, he merely plays C, F and G, and the instrument automatically causes the proper sharp tones to be played. When he comes to accidental Sharps, he plays the adjacent upper digital to the right and when he comes t0 accidental flats, he plays the upper adjacent digital to the left. This applies to the tones E and F, as well as the tones B and C. In such case, the supplemental digitals 36 and 3l are used. When playing in a sharped key and a natural accident occurs, the player treats it as a flat, and if he is playing in a atted key, he merely treats it as a sharp. In this manner, the player merely reads the notes as they occur and does not have to carry in mind the particular notes which are sharped and iiatted in the signature.

The advantages of my invention are manifest.

With my invention, a minimum amount of memory work is imposed upon the player. The player using my instrument can learn to play with a minimum amount of practice. Players using my improved instrument can learn to play more rapidly and far more accurately. With my instrument, it becomes only necessary to play in the key of C, the invention reducing all other keys to the equivalent of C. With my invention, there are far less opportunities for errors in the playing of pieces of music in keys having several Sharps and flats. My invention may be readily applied to any mechanical instrument having a manual or key board arranged in the conventional manner such as pianos, organs, melodlons or accordions.

Changes in the specic form of my invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a musical instrument having diatonc tone generators adapted to produce a diatonic scale, and lower digitals corresponding therewith and further having intermediate tone generators producing semitones between the full tones of the diatonic scale and upper digitals corresponding therewith, means for actuating each tone generator by the digital corresponding therewith, means for actuating each of the intermediate tone generatorsfby one of the juxtaposed lower digitals, supplemental upper digitals disposed between the lower digitals whose generators produce tones having semitone intervals, means for causing said supplemental digitals to actuate the tone generators corresponding with either of the lower digitals adjacent thereto, and selector means for selectively predetermining the digital by which each generator is actuated.

2. In a musical instrument having diatonic tone generators adapted to produce a diatonic scale, and lower digitals corresponding therewith and further having intermediate tone generators producing semitones between the full tones of the diatonic scale and upper digitals corresponding therewith, electrical means for actuating each of said tone generators, three switches associated with each of said digital, circuits connecting one of the switches of each digital with the tone generator corresponding with said digital, circuits connecting another of the switches of each digital with the tone generator producing a tone a semitone lower than that produced by the tone generator with which the rst switch is associated, circuits for connecting the other of said switches of each digital with the tone generator producing a tone a semitone higher than that produced by the tone generator with which the first switch is associated, supplemental upper digitals disposed between the lower digitals whose generators produce tones having semitone intervals, two switches associated with each of said supplemental digitals, circuits connecting one of said switches of each supplemental digital with the tone generator corresponding with the digital to the left of Vsaid supplemental digital, circuits connecting the other of said switches of each supplemental digital with the tone generator corresponding with the generator to the right of said 9 supplemental digital, and selector means for selectively predetermining the switch. by means of which each tone generator is actuated.

3. In a musical instrument having tone generu ators, digitals corresponding therewith, means for effecting control of said generators by their corresponding digitals and means for retaining control of certain of said generators by their corresponding digitals and for concurrently shifting control of certain of the other of said tone generators to the digitals adjacent the dgitals corresponding therewith.

RICHARD T. CORNELIUS.

CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNTTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 209,963 Clark Sept. 30, 1902 2,221,814 Reid Nov. 19, 1940 2,259,858 Reid Oct. 21, 1941 2,273,768 Fisher Feb. 17, 1942 2 293,499 Fisher Aug. 18, 1942 

